Page Two of authorization for Guards
to flee because of mistreatment of POWs
Dated 20 Aug 1945, 5 days after the surrender. For larger image, 72
dpi, 87 Kb file, click on image

Doc
2701, Exhibit "O" - The order to murder all the POWsSource: NARA, War Crimes, Japan, RG 24, Box 2015
While some claim the author of this "policy memorandum" from the war
ministry did not have the authority to issue order such an order, this
"policy" was transmitted to every POW Command and POW prison camp
commander. Other documents in this same file show that input of
suggestion for the "Methods to dispose of the POWS" had been solicited
from all commands in the preceding months. Per Toru Fukubayashi:
"It appears that the Japanese Army did have a policy to kill all the
POWs if Allied Forces landed on Japanese home islands. Some argue that
there are few materials to prove that this policy existed. However, Mr.
Yamashita, who was the commander of Iruka Branch Camp (Nagoya No.4) in
Mie Prefecture, told me in 1998 that ideas about how to kill the POWs
had been discussed among the principal members of the branch camp."

Page 1 of the War Ministry's order
for the disposition (murder) of all POWs. For larger image, 72 dpi, 80
Kb file, click on imageDate of order: 1 Aug 1944